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Texas A&M Kingsville - time to move up to D1-FCS

Did you ever wonder why all our old Lone Star Conference opponents left Division II to become NCAA Div.1-FCS teams? There are $2 MILLION worth of reasons. It is a little known fact that the NCAA distributes its $600 million in TV earnings among ALL the schools which are members of D1 (the larger FBS schools and the smaller FCS schools). Naturally, the big boys get the lion's share of those funds, but the FCS schools get a sizeable cut.

That distribution averages $1 million per year for FCS schools. In addition, the TV contracts of D1-FCS conferences generate another $250,000 per school annually. Then, guaranteed "money" games against the big budget D1-FBS teams like A&M, LSU, and Nebraska pay $600,000 per game or more. Many D1-FCS teams play two such games a year. But, a school has to have D1 to status to be eligible for those kind of paydays.

What would another $2 million do for the Javelina programs? First, it would assure that we could afford to offer the full number of scholarships allowed by the NCAA in each sport. Unfortunately, we currently offer only 27 of the 36 scholarships allowed in D2 for football. That puts us at a 25% disadvantage before a game even starts. It is like playing a basketball game with four players instead of five. No wonder we have struggled in the last few years!. But, that was a faulty budget decision made by TAMUK leadership in the past. TAMUK can certainly afford to fund all the scholarships allowed since the school has averaged a $10 million surplus annually over the last several years.

The financial windfall of upgrading to D1-FCS is why SFA, Sam Houston, Texas State (SWT), Central Arkansas, and Abilene Christian bailed out of D2 years ago. Each has gone on to become highly successful at the D1-FCS level. The neighboring Southland Conference is a D1-FCS conference which includes many former LSC schools. All its members are conveniently located in Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas. The SLC has a very lucrative TV contract with ESPN and several cable companies which permit each of its schools to appear on national or regional TV broadcasts several times each year. TV exposure is the drawing card for premier athletes which is simply not on the table for D2 programs. The stark reality is that top athletes would prefer to go to a D1 school than a D2 school.

Currently, TAMUK spends $8+ million on athletics. Another $2 million in revenue from becoming a D1-FCS member would put us at the $10+ million level. That is the athletic budget range of McNeese State which has been a perennial powerhouse at the D1-FCS level for the last 40 years!

Now we need to build the urgency and momentum necessary for the current TAMUK leadership to take the initiative to move up to D1 while the opportunity exists. Tarleton and Texas A&M-Commerce are already actively considering the move. Let's don't allow ourselves to get left behind again with the likes of Western New Mexico!

Email and Call TAMUK President Mark Hussey today to urge him make the decision to move up to D1-FCS for the future of our alma mater and to increase its standing and visibility in Texas. His email address is mark.hussey@tamuk.edu
361-593-3209

Re: Texas A&M Kingsville - time to move up to D1-FCS

Did you ever wonder why all our old Lone Star Conference opponents left Division II to become NCAA Div.1-FCS teams? There are $2 MILLION worth of reasons. It is a little known fact that the NCAA distributes its $600 million in TV earnings among ALL the schools which are members of D1 (the larger FBS schools and the smaller FCS schools). Naturally, the big boys get the lion's share of those funds, but the FCS schools get a sizeable cut.

That distribution averages $1 million per year for FCS schools. In addition, the TV contracts of D1-FCS conferences generate another $250,000 per school annually. Then, guaranteed "money" games against the big budget D1-FBS teams like A&M, LSU, and Nebraska pay $600,000 per game or more. Many D1-FCS teams play two such games a year. But, a school has to have D1 to status to be eligible for those kind of paydays.

What would another $2 million do for the Javelina programs? First, it would assure that we could afford to offer the full number of scholarships allowed by the NCAA in each sport. Unfortunately, we currently offer only 27 of the 36 scholarships allowed in D2 for football. That puts us at a 25% disadvantage before a game even starts. It is like playing a basketball game with four players instead of five. No wonder we have struggled in the last few years!. But, that was a faulty budget decision made by TAMUK leadership in the past. TAMUK can certainly afford to fund all the scholarships allowed since the school has averaged a $10 million surplus annually over the last several years.

The financial windfall of upgrading to D1-FCS is why SFA, Sam Houston, Texas State (SWT), Central Arkansas, and Abilene Christian bailed out of D2 years ago. Each has gone on to become highly successful at the D1-FCS level. The neighboring Southland Conference is a D1-FCS conference which includes many former LSC schools. All its members are conveniently located in Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas. The SLC has a very lucrative TV contract with ESPN and several cable companies which permit each of its schools to appear on national or regional TV broadcasts several times each year. TV exposure is the drawing card for premier athletes which is simply not on the table for D2 programs. The stark reality is that top athletes would prefer to go to a D1 school than a D2 school.

Currently, TAMUK spends $8+ million on athletics. Another $2 million in revenue from becoming a D1-FCS member would put us at the $10+ million level. That is the athletic budget range of McNeese State which has been a perennial powerhouse at the D1-FCS level for the last 40 years!

Now we need to build the urgency and momentum necessary for the current TAMUK leadership to take the initiative to move up to D1 while the opportunity exists. Tarleton and Texas A&M-Commerce are already actively considering the move. Let's don't allow ourselves to get left behind again with the likes of Western New Mexico!

Email and Call TAMUK President Mark Hussey today to urge him make the decision to move up to D1-FCS for the future of our alma mater and to increase its standing and visibility in Texas. His email address is mark.hussey@tamuk.edu
361-593-3209

Thanks for your help. Do it today!

Watch For Upcoming Email

Javelina Athletic Facility
Proposal by Jim Browm

For More Information
979-255-5412

The first part in bold is an issue I thought had been fixed? If not, WTH??????????

This group ought to not even waste their time and effort if the administration is not going to fix the issues we face at the D2 level first. It will be like trading in one rusty clunker vehicle another which might have a better paint job. But we'd still be stuck with a broken down machine that goes no where most of the time. Once the facilities are on par with the WTAM's, Tarleton's, etc and we are back at eight plus win seasons, and making playoffs then maybe it should be looked at? Or if changes in the LSC and D2 in general force our hand. Really we need to decide for the sake of future expenditures if football is going to be critical sport for the school going forward because if it's not and they just continue to pay lip service, I just assume we invest that money into our baseball and other programs and ride with it. Let's go full Cameron or Nebraska Omaha and be done with it. Seriously.

I don't know how much time the new AD or President need to see the turning point has way passed us and waiting even another year or so is not acceptable. The canary in the coal mine has lost it's voice.

Re: Texas A&M Kingsville - time to move up to D1-FCS

Did you ever wonder why all our old Lone Star Conference opponents left Division II to become NCAA Div.1-FCS teams? There are $2 MILLION worth of reasons. It is a little known fact that the NCAA distributes its $600 million in TV earnings among ALL the schools which are members of D1 (the larger FBS schools and the smaller FCS schools). Naturally, the big boys get the lion's share of those funds, but the FCS schools get a sizeable cut.

That distribution averages $1 million per year for FCS schools. In addition, the TV contracts of D1-FCS conferences generate another $250,000 per school annually. Then, guaranteed "money" games against the big budget D1-FBS teams like A&M, LSU, and Nebraska pay $600,000 per game or more. Many D1-FCS teams play two such games a year. But, a school has to have D1 to status to be eligible for those kind of paydays.

What would another $2 million do for the Javelina programs? First, it would assure that we could afford to offer the full number of scholarships allowed by the NCAA in each sport. Unfortunately, we currently offer only 27 of the 36 scholarships allowed in D2 for football. That puts us at a 25% disadvantage before a game even starts. It is like playing a basketball game with four players instead of five. No wonder we have struggled in the last few years!. But, that was a faulty budget decision made by TAMUK leadership in the past. TAMUK can certainly afford to fund all the scholarships allowed since the school has averaged a $10 million surplus annually over the last several years.

The financial windfall of upgrading to D1-FCS is why SFA, Sam Houston, Texas State (SWT), Central Arkansas, and Abilene Christian bailed out of D2 years ago. Each has gone on to become highly successful at the D1-FCS level. The neighboring Southland Conference is a D1-FCS conference which includes many former LSC schools. All its members are conveniently located in Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas. The SLC has a very lucrative TV contract with ESPN and several cable companies which permit each of its schools to appear on national or regional TV broadcasts several times each year. TV exposure is the drawing card for premier athletes which is simply not on the table for D2 programs. The stark reality is that top athletes would prefer to go to a D1 school than a D2 school.

Currently, TAMUK spends $8+ million on athletics. Another $2 million in revenue from becoming a D1-FCS member would put us at the $10+ million level. That is the athletic budget range of McNeese State which has been a perennial powerhouse at the D1-FCS level for the last 40 years!

Now we need to build the urgency and momentum necessary for the current TAMUK leadership to take the initiative to move up to D1 while the opportunity exists. Tarleton and Texas A&M-Commerce are already actively considering the move. Let's don't allow ourselves to get left behind again with the likes of Western New Mexico!

Email and Call TAMUK President Mark Hussey today to urge him make the decision to move up to D1-FCS for the future of our alma mater and to increase its standing and visibility in Texas. His email address is mark.hussey@tamuk.edu
361-593-3209

Thanks for your help. Do it today!

Watch For Upcoming Email

Javelina Athletic Facility
Proposal by Jim Browm

For More Information
979-255-5412

So much misinformation in one post. Congrats, this has to be a new record.

Who was the first person to look at a cow and say, "I think I'll squeeze these dangly things here, and drink whatever comes out?"

Re: Texas A&M Kingsville - time to move up to D1-FCS

Did you ever wonder why all our old Lone Star Conference opponents left Division II to become NCAA Div.1-FCS teams? There are $2 MILLION worth of reasons. It is a little known fact that the NCAA distributes its $600 million in TV earnings among ALL the schools which are members of D1 (the larger FBS schools and the smaller FCS schools). Naturally, the big boys get the lion's share of those funds, but the FCS schools get a sizeable cut.

That distribution averages $1 million per year for FCS schools. In addition, the TV contracts of D1-FCS conferences generate another $250,000 per school annually. Then, guaranteed "money" games against the big budget D1-FBS teams like A&M, LSU, and Nebraska pay $600,000 per game or more. Many D1-FCS teams play two such games a year. But, a school has to have D1 to status to be eligible for those kind of paydays.

What would another $2 million do for the Javelina programs? First, it would assure that we could afford to offer the full number of scholarships allowed by the NCAA in each sport. Unfortunately, we currently offer only 27 of the 36 scholarships allowed in D2 for football. That puts us at a 25% disadvantage before a game even starts. It is like playing a basketball game with four players instead of five. No wonder we have struggled in the last few years!. But, that was a faulty budget decision made by TAMUK leadership in the past. TAMUK can certainly afford to fund all the scholarships allowed since the school has averaged a $10 million surplus annually over the last several years.

The financial windfall of upgrading to D1-FCS is why SFA, Sam Houston, Texas State (SWT), Central Arkansas, and Abilene Christian bailed out of D2 years ago. Each has gone on to become highly successful at the D1-FCS level. The neighboring Southland Conference is a D1-FCS conference which includes many former LSC schools. All its members are conveniently located in Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas. The SLC has a very lucrative TV contract with ESPN and several cable companies which permit each of its schools to appear on national or regional TV broadcasts several times each year. TV exposure is the drawing card for premier athletes which is simply not on the table for D2 programs. The stark reality is that top athletes would prefer to go to a D1 school than a D2 school.

Currently, TAMUK spends $8+ million on athletics. Another $2 million in revenue from becoming a D1-FCS member would put us at the $10+ million level. That is the athletic budget range of McNeese State which has been a perennial powerhouse at the D1-FCS level for the last 40 years!

Now we need to build the urgency and momentum necessary for the current TAMUK leadership to take the initiative to move up to D1 while the opportunity exists. Tarleton and Texas A&M-Commerce are already actively considering the move. Let's don't allow ourselves to get left behind again with the likes of Western New Mexico!

Email and Call TAMUK President Mark Hussey today to urge him make the decision to move up to D1-FCS for the future of our alma mater and to increase its standing and visibility in Texas. His email address is mark.hussey@tamuk.edu
361-593-3209

Re: Texas A&M Kingsville - time to move up to D1-FCS

Did you ever wonder why all our old Lone Star Conference opponents left Division II to become NCAA Div.1-FCS teams? There are $2 MILLION worth of reasons. It is a little known fact that the NCAA distributes its $600 million in TV earnings among ALL the schools which are members of D1 (the larger FBS schools and the smaller FCS schools). Naturally, the big boys get the lion's share of those funds, but the FCS schools get a sizeable cut.

That distribution averages $1 million per year for FCS schools. In addition, the TV contracts of D1-FCS conferences generate another $250,000 per school annually. Then, guaranteed "money" games against the big budget D1-FBS teams like A&M, LSU, and Nebraska pay $600,000 per game or more. Many D1-FCS teams play two such games a year. But, a school has to have D1 to status to be eligible for those kind of paydays.

What would another $2 million do for the Javelina programs? First, it would assure that we could afford to offer the full number of scholarships allowed by the NCAA in each sport. Unfortunately, we currently offer only 27 of the 36 scholarships allowed in D2 for football. That puts us at a 25% disadvantage before a game even starts. It is like playing a basketball game with four players instead of five. No wonder we have struggled in the last few years!. But, that was a faulty budget decision made by TAMUK leadership in the past. TAMUK can certainly afford to fund all the scholarships allowed since the school has averaged a $10 million surplus annually over the last several years.

I thought we were fully funding 36 scholarships for several years now. However, even if we moved up and had the means to fully fund the 63 scholarships for football, there is nothing to prevent the same type of "decision" to only fund 47 (using the same 75%).

The financial windfall of upgrading to D1-FCS is why SFA, Sam Houston, Texas State (SWT), Central Arkansas, and Abilene Christian bailed out of D2 years ago. Each has gone on to become highly successful at the D1-FCS level.

How would you measure "highly successful"? If it's that they've managed to survive as FCS, then I'll agree with you. If it's that they've managed to be competitive in sports, I'll have to disagree with you. In football, only Sam Houston has had some success and that has only been within the last few years of being FCS for over 30 years. SWT... nada. SFA... nada. UIW... nada.

The neighboring Southland Conference is a D1-FCS conference which includes many former LSC schools. All its members are conveniently located in Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas. The SLC has a very lucrative TV contract with ESPN and several cable companies which permit each of its schools to appear on national or regional TV broadcasts several times each year. TV exposure is the drawing card for premier athletes which is simply not on the table for D2 programs. The stark reality is that top athletes would prefer to go to a D1 school than a D2 school.

Currently, TAMUK spends $8+ million on athletics. Another $2 million in revenue from becoming a D1-FCS member would put us at the $10+ million level. That is the athletic budget range of McNeese State which has been a perennial powerhouse at the D1-FCS level for the last 40 years!

Now we need to build the urgency and momentum necessary for the current TAMUK leadership to take the initiative to move up to D1 while the opportunity exists. Tarleton and Texas A&M-Commerce are already actively considering the move. Let's don't allow ourselves to get left behind again with the likes of Western New Mexico!

Email and Call TAMUK President Mark Hussey today to urge him make the decision to move up to D1-FCS for the future of our alma mater and to increase its standing and visibility in Texas. His email address is mark.hussey@tamuk.edu
361-593-3209

Thanks for your help. Do it today!

Watch For Upcoming Email

Javelina Athletic Facility
Proposal by Jim Browm

For More Information
979-255-5412

I would love to see it happen if we will be successful. I would love to see our football team turn around and have some of the success it once had. I'd love to be able to take the momentum our softball team, baseball, beach volleyball team, track, etc have had recently to the next level. It will require a lot of additional funding. I don't think we've still recovered from the loss of alumni donations after the name change so I find it difficult to believe a complete culture change will occur simply because we're now D1.

Re: Texas A&M Kingsville - time to move up to D1-FCS

Originally Posted by '89HOG

I would love to see it happen if we will be successful. I would love to see our football team turn around and have some of the success it once had. I'd love to be able to take the momentum our softball team, baseball, beach volleyball team, track, etc have had recently to the next level. It will require a lot of additional funding. I don't think we've still recovered from the loss of alumni donations after the name change so I find it difficult to believe a complete culture change will occur simply because we're now D1.

GO HOGS!!!

Those teams would never contend for a national title again. Never.

Who was the first person to look at a cow and say, "I think I'll squeeze these dangly things here, and drink whatever comes out?"

Re: Texas A&M Kingsville - time to move up to D1-FCS

Originally Posted by '89HOG

I would love to see it happen if we will be successful. I would love to see our football team turn around and have some of the success it once had. I'd love to be able to take the momentum our softball team, baseball, beach volleyball team, track, etc have had recently to the next level. It will require a lot of additional funding. I don't think we've still recovered from the loss of alumni donations after the name change so I find it difficult to believe a complete culture change will occur simply because we're now D1.

GO HOGS!!!

This is somewhat correct. My contention is they haven't really tried to engage the stakeholders on the football part. If they have, it's been a very selective group when it should have been a much broader effort.

An approach needs to be taken much like a new CEO when he/she comes into a company that is either hit a brick wall or just can't get over it to take the next step. See what has worked.... Look at what others are doing... Engage the worker bees and motivate.... Get rid of the deadwood..... Develop a step by step plan that's realistic. ..... Execute ..... And then comeback to fine tune so you don't have to reinvent the wheel.

Re: Texas A&M Kingsville - time to move up to D1-FCS

Originally Posted by JavsFan

Those teams would never contend for a national title again. Never.

I think winning the NC in '17 might have changed some minds in Commerce. No clue if they are or arent talking about it these days, but I used to hear some chatter until we won the natty, and I havent heard any since. I think they saw how much of an impact that had on the University and realize you're pretty much saying adios to that ever happening again if you move up. Once you weight the options of something that huge to getting a payday to get beat by 60 at A&M and it seems pretty obvious which one wins out.

Re: Texas A&M Kingsville - time to move up to D1-FCS

Originally Posted by LionFan

I think winning the NC in '17 might have changed some minds in Commerce. No clue if they are or arent talking about it these days, but I used to hear some chatter until we won the natty, and I havent heard any since. I think they saw how much of an impact that had on the University and realize you're pretty much saying adios to that ever happening again if you move up.

The only way a move up to D1-AA/FCS would be appealing is if the NCAA allowed those same schools to play other sports in a similar sub-division or opt up to D1 kind of like they used to do. And who the heck knows, it might happen down the road once the big boy TV contracts all come up for discussion in the next few years.

I don't see the appeal in a sport like baseball where a national tourney is involved that winning the Southland and then getting the forth seed in a Regional which would automatically be played in Austin, Collie Station, Lubbock or Baton Rouge. You could go 40-5 and you'd still play second fiddle to one of those schools for hosting privileges for one. And poor Sam Houston.. They have an awesome baseball facility which might be on par with some of the Big 12/SEC schools. But if you have that same FCS like set up and play for a championship in those sports, then yes it would be worth a look for us downtrodden LSC schools. If the Dallas Baptists, etc want to pick and chose what sports they want to play in the big boy leagues.... Let them.

Re: Texas A&M Kingsville - time to move up to D1-FCS

Originally Posted by LionFan

I think winning the NC in '17 might have changed some minds in Commerce. No clue if they are or arent talking about it these days, but I used to hear some chatter until we won the natty, and I havent heard any since. I think they saw how much of an impact that had on the University and realize you're pretty much saying adios to that ever happening again if you move up. Once you weight the options of something that huge to getting a payday to get beat by 60 at A&M and it seems pretty obvious which one wins out.

That should be the case here as well, winning the Men's track title last year, and consistently finishing in the top 10 at the national meet in recent years. Now, hosting the national championship track meet for the next two years should really reinforce that sentiment.

Who was the first person to look at a cow and say, "I think I'll squeeze these dangly things here, and drink whatever comes out?"

Re: Texas A&M Kingsville - time to move up to D1-FCS

Did you ever wonder why all our old Lone Star Conference opponents left Division II to become NCAA Div.1-FCS teams? There are $2 MILLION worth of reasons. It is a little known fact that the NCAA distributes its $600 million in TV earnings among ALL the schools which are members of D1 (the larger FBS schools and the smaller FCS schools). Naturally, the big boys get the lion's share of those funds, but the FCS schools get a sizeable cut.

That distribution averages $1 million per year for FCS schools. In addition, the TV contracts of D1-FCS conferences generate another $250,000 per school annually. Then, guaranteed "money" games against the big budget D1-FBS teams like A&M, LSU, and Nebraska pay $600,000 per game or more. Many D1-FCS teams play two such games a year. But, a school has to have D1 to status to be eligible for those kind of paydays.

What would another $2 million do for the Javelina programs? First, it would assure that we could afford to offer the full number of scholarships allowed by the NCAA in each sport. Unfortunately, we currently offer only 27 of the 36 scholarships allowed in D2 for football. That puts us at a 25% disadvantage before a game even starts. It is like playing a basketball game with four players instead of five. No wonder we have struggled in the last few years!. But, that was a faulty budget decision made by TAMUK leadership in the past. TAMUK can certainly afford to fund all the scholarships allowed since the school has averaged a $10 million surplus annually over the last several years.

The financial windfall of upgrading to D1-FCS is why SFA, Sam Houston, Texas State (SWT), Central Arkansas, and Abilene Christian bailed out of D2 years ago. Each has gone on to become highly successful at the D1-FCS level. The neighboring Southland Conference is a D1-FCS conference which includes many former LSC schools. All its members are conveniently located in Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas. The SLC has a very lucrative TV contract with ESPN and several cable companies which permit each of its schools to appear on national or regional TV broadcasts several times each year. TV exposure is the drawing card for premier athletes which is simply not on the table for D2 programs. The stark reality is that top athletes would prefer to go to a D1 school than a D2 school.

Currently, TAMUK spends $8+ million on athletics. Another $2 million in revenue from becoming a D1-FCS member would put us at the $10+ million level. That is the athletic budget range of McNeese State which has been a perennial powerhouse at the D1-FCS level for the last 40 years!

Now we need to build the urgency and momentum necessary for the current TAMUK leadership to take the initiative to move up to D1 while the opportunity exists. Tarleton and Texas A&M-Commerce are already actively considering the move. Let's don't allow ourselves to get left behind again with the likes of Western New Mexico!

Email and Call TAMUK President Mark Hussey today to urge him make the decision to move up to D1-FCS for the future of our alma mater and to increase its standing and visibility in Texas. His email address is mark.hussey@tamuk.edu
361-593-3209

Re: Texas A&M Kingsville - time to move up to D1-FCS

Originally Posted by '89HOG

Agree. Just look at the bracket for D1 Softball. 13 of the 16 teams in the SEC made the softball playoffs while a number of teams with much better records were left out.

To emphasize this point. All 13 SEC softball teams (Vandy does not have a team) made the tourney. Texas A&M was last in the standings at 6-18 (SEC), 28-25 (ALL). The conference schedule format has its teams play only 8 of the 12 mates for 3 games each. It's espn over-hype.

Re: Texas A&M Kingsville - time to move up to D1-FCS

Originally Posted by Tech Boys

To emphasize this point. All 13 SEC softball teams (Vandy does not have a team) made the tourney. Texas A&M was last in the standings at 6-18 (SEC), 28-25 (ALL). The conference schedule format has its teams play only 8 of the 12 mates for 3 games each. It's espn over-hype.

TBH FCS really shouldn't be considered D1. NCAA should either give them their own Division or drop them all back to D2 and allow all D2 schools to fund 63 scholarships. It's time for FBS schools to stop playing FCS schools or drop down and play them exclusively.

Re: Texas A&M Kingsville - time to move up to D1-FCS

Originally Posted by Tech Boys

To emphasize this point. All 13 SEC softball teams (Vandy does not have a team) made the tourney. Texas A&M was last in the standings at 6-18 (SEC), 28-25 (ALL). The conference schedule format has its teams play only 8 of the 12 mates for 3 games each. It's espn over-hype.

Another reason I hate the dang SEC! SEC! SEC!

They pad the schedules in all their sports with non conference games and then get by with this non sense. At least when the Big 12 really was 12 teams, they made the other division teams play each other more often vs what the SEC! SEC! SEC! does. I mean the hated Sips has played UGA more than aggy this decade and what they are going on their 7th year in the dog and pony show ESPN hyped drivel of a conference? Cut out the non conference cupcake game in November and fricken man up and get one more conference game in so they can play their cross division teams more often! Absolutely pathetic.

Re: Texas A&M Kingsville - time to move up to D1-FCS

The same group that put out this email were the leaders in trying to get the name changed back to A&I a few years ago. They gave it their best shot and had a little momentum behind them too, but it was never going to happen. And it never will. In other words they should spend their efforts and remaining active years (some of these folks are getting up there) in trying to improve on what we have and frankly they are kind of one of the aforementioned stakeholders who need to be engaged in the process. But they have to be willing to engage themselves and let the A&I issue RIP.

Re: Texas A&M Kingsville - time to move up to D1-FCS

Did you ever wonder why all our old Lone Star Conference opponents left Division II to become NCAA Div.1-FCS teams? There are $2 MILLION worth of reasons. It is a little known fact that the NCAA distributes its $600 million in TV earnings among ALL the schools which are members of D1 (the larger FBS schools and the smaller FCS schools). Naturally, the big boys get the lion's share of those funds, but the FCS schools get a sizeable cut.

That distribution averages $1 million per year for FCS schools. In addition, the TV contracts of D1-FCS conferences generate another $250,000 per school annually. Then, guaranteed "money" games against the big budget D1-FBS teams like A&M, LSU, and Nebraska pay $600,000 per game or more. Many D1-FCS teams play two such games a year. But, a school has to have D1 to status to be eligible for those kind of paydays.

What would another $2 million do for the Javelina programs? First, it would assure that we could afford to offer the full number of scholarships allowed by the NCAA in each sport. Unfortunately, we currently offer only 27 of the 36 scholarships allowed in D2 for football. That puts us at a 25% disadvantage before a game even starts. It is like playing a basketball game with four players instead of five. No wonder we have struggled in the last few years!. But, that was a faulty budget decision made by TAMUK leadership in the past. TAMUK can certainly afford to fund all the scholarships allowed since the school has averaged a $10 million surplus annually over the last several years.

The financial windfall of upgrading to D1-FCS is why SFA, Sam Houston, Texas State (SWT), Central Arkansas, and Abilene Christian bailed out of D2 years ago. Each has gone on to become highly successful at the D1-FCS level. The neighboring Southland Conference is a D1-FCS conference which includes many former LSC schools. All its members are conveniently located in Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas. The SLC has a very lucrative TV contract with ESPN and several cable companies which permit each of its schools to appear on national or regional TV broadcasts several times each year. TV exposure is the drawing card for premier athletes which is simply not on the table for D2 programs. The stark reality is that top athletes would prefer to go to a D1 school than a D2 school.

Currently, TAMUK spends $8+ million on athletics. Another $2 million in revenue from becoming a D1-FCS member would put us at the $10+ million level. That is the athletic budget range of McNeese State which has been a perennial powerhouse at the D1-FCS level for the last 40 years!

Now we need to build the urgency and momentum necessary for the current TAMUK leadership to take the initiative to move up to D1 while the opportunity exists. Tarleton and Texas A&M-Commerce are already actively considering the move. Let's don't allow ourselves to get left behind again with the likes of Western New Mexico!

Email and Call TAMUK President Mark Hussey today to urge him make the decision to move up to D1-FCS for the future of our alma mater and to increase its standing and visibility in Texas. His email address is mark.hussey@tamuk.edu
361-593-3209

Thanks for your help. Do it today!

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Javelina Athletic Facility
Proposal by Jim Browm

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979-255-5412

Thanks again for the misinformation. You A&I til I die guys really know how to push the bull**** without regard for honesty.

Lets compare to Stephen F. Austin. They are on your list and their budget is readily available (LINK) and pretty good on detailing both revenue sources and amounts and expenditures.